Thursday 20 December 2012

True Confessions of a Shopping Mall Santa

This week I foolishly took up an offer to become ‘Santa’ in a small shopping centre somewhere out in the wilds of county Galway. To begin with I had to get into my Santa outfit. A cushion was fastened suffocatingly tight to my belly by leather straps and a rope. A large itchy beard was secured to my face by elastic bands that drew blood from the back of my ears. 

The beard partially blocked my nose, restricting my oxygen intake. The top of my head was wedged into a tight wig, the fringe of which hung over my eyes, blocking my vision. As my body temperature began to soar, I tried to drink from a bottle of water only for the contents to spill down the beard; the mouth hole being too small and blocked by tangles of white nylon.

Half blind and gasping for air and water I was then led into the store. For a moment I was alone. To either side of me were shelves stacked with tins of beans and soups and other daily fare. Overhead hot lights glared down. Then Helper Elf cried out, ‘Merry Christmas! Santa is here!’ Suddenly a throng of screaming miniature savages surrounded me. Toddlers demanded X-boxes, girls burped bubble gum burps into my face as they tried to tell me about their lists, boys grabbed at my beard causing the elastic to cut deeper into my ears. 

Above the hysteric shrieks of the children, rose the roaring of the mammies and daddies as they shoved, kicked and punched other children out of the way to ensure their little darling got right up to Santa for a happy photograph. At some point the cushion was torn from my belly and my big Santa pants fell down…

I barely survived the two-hour ordeal. Other Santa impersonators are not so lucky. They have to endure weeks of brutal inhumane treatment. So please, boys and girls, if you see a big fat fellow dressed in red and looked dazed, give him a big hug and wish him a Merry Christmas!




And of course you have to look after yourself: Here’s some articles that may be of interest:
Xmas Shopping! Is it Good for you or Bad for you?
Tips for a Happy & Healthy Christmas 





Monday 10 December 2012

A chance to win 3,000 euro!



Want to win 3,000 euro. Drop into the wellness centre (at the back of the Hub) and buy an Irish Heart Foundation raffle ticket.

By supporting the raffle you are also supporting many of the vital services the Irish Heart Foundation provides that enable thousands of people to have a better quality of life.
The Prizes
  • 1st Prize    €3,000
  • 2nd Prize   €2,000
  • 3rd Prize      €500
This year each tickets costs only €3
Tickets are on sale until 14th December. The raffle will be drawn on 19th December. Good luck!

(PS. Feel free to pick up the Irish Heart Foundation healthy living leaflets in the Wellness Centre)

Monday 3 December 2012

Exam de-stress - Massage



Massage
Aisling Battersby, Dip Nat ,Dip Spl, Dip Ma, Dip Ref.

Feeling tense? Massage therapy provides general relaxation within muscles, improves concentration, helps mental fatigue. Aisling offers a choice of massage styles, tailored to suit your needs and desires. Choose between Deep Tissue Swedish massage to release deeply held tension, Lymphatic drainage massage to boost the immune system, Indian Head Massage for gentle relaxation, or Sports Injury manipulation for stressed shoulders. 

Booking required.

Where: Wellness Centre at the back of the Hub
When: Every Monday, Tuesday & Thursday until 13thDecember
Price: Staff: 25 Euro / Students: 10 Euro
Booking required. Email: destressbooking@nuigalway.ie